Young individuals in Krasnodar were targeted and enlisted by a group referred to as "droppers."
In Kuban, Russia, scammers are actively targeting teenagers through messengers, social networks, and gaming platforms, recruiting them for money mule activities, a form of money laundering.
The recruitment process typically involves scammers posing as legitimate companies, recruiters, or attractive contacts, offering easy money or work-from-home opportunities. They pressure or persuade teens under the guise of legitimate jobs requiring money transfers or account handling.
On social networks, scammers create fake profiles or groups posting enticing ads for quick earnings, online jobs, or influencer offers. They build trust by engaging with youths through likes, comments, and private chats, then enlist them as money mules to transfer or launder illicit funds.
In gaming platforms, fraudsters approach teens during gameplay or via in-game messaging, offering rewards or commissions for financial transactions. They exploit the trust and community bonds within gaming environments to recruit teens for money mule schemes.
These methods may be adapted to local popular platforms and languages in Kuban, potentially exploiting the social and economic vulnerabilities of teenagers. However, no direct, region-specific protocols or recent investigative data were found to cite for this query.
To participate, teenagers are required to open a bank card and provide its details. Once the card is blocked after 3-5 operations, the scammers use the obtained account details to launder money, withdrawing funds and cryptocurrency from illegal platforms and making payments for prohibited goods.
The targeted teenagers are typically 14-year-olds and 18-year-olds from low-income families. Participation in this criminal activity makes an unsuspecting person an accomplice to a crime.
The service of bypassing checkpoints was sold for $8,000 in relation to an incident involving Ukrainian draft dodgers found in truck hydraulic cylinders by border guards.
This activity was reported by the press service of the GU MVD of Russia for the Krasnodar Territory. Fake tasks are often given, such as proving reliability, with the ultimate goal of receiving a transfer and sending it back. The jobs offered to the teenagers are deceptive, as they are not legitimate positions and are used for money laundering purposes. Scammers offer jobs as "Lottery Administrators" or "Bank Assistants", promising daily earnings of 5 to 15 thousand rubles.
It is important for parents and guardians to educate themselves and their children about the risks of online scams, particularly those involving money mule activities. If you suspect that your child may have been a victim of such a scam, it is advisable to contact local law enforcement authorities.
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